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Zimbabwe:
Water and Sanitation program scores major success
World Vision
July 20, 2004
Read
the article on www.reliefweb.int
World
Vision Zimbabwe's Water and Sanitation Program, currently underway
in Beitbridge and Bubi, has achieved a great deal in just a short
time. So far, 89 water points in Beitbridge, and 64 in Bubi, have
been rehabilitated.
The program,
which is being funded by United States Agency for International
Development-Office for Foreign Disaster Assistance (USAID-OFDA),
seeks to increase access to portable water to 4,625 households in
the two severely affected districts of Matebeleland region.
Beitbridge,
which borders South Africa, lying 321km south of Bulawayo, is a
region characterized by low and erratic rainfall. The area is faced
with perennial water shortages as most rivers dry up in summer.
As well as water shortages, the border-town is also prone to cholera
outbreaks because of the widespread use of unprotected wells.
"This area is
open to disease outbreaks. Last time cholera broke out many people
died as we did not have the medicine and clean water to assist them,"
said Progress Mbedzi, a village headman.
He said that
before World Vision Zimbabwe's intervention, most people used to
walk long distances to the nearest water point as most of the existing
boreholes had broken down and were not functional.
"The situation
was bad especially during summer when most streams dry up," he said.
"Not only was it bad for the people, but for the animals as well.
We lost several herds of cattle because the nearest dam is far away
from here."
Mbedzi said
the timely intervention by World Vision Zimbabwe is going to save
lives.
For more information
on World Vision International visit http://www.wvi.org,
or contact us at newsvision@wvi.org
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